Unbeaten Germany coast past Kazakhstan

Germany remain unbeaten at the top of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying Group C after easing to victory against Kazakhstan in Astrana.

Two goals in quick succession from Thomas Müller, diverting in a Bastian Schweinsteiger effort, and Mario Götze put the initially stuttering visitors on track in the Astrana Arena, before Müller rounded off the scoring in the second half.

Germany dominated possession from the outset, but things did not immediately click in the final third for one of the qualifying round's most prolific sides. After 20 minutes, however, the visitors reverted to type as Schweinsteiger picked up a ball inside the area, showed great control and fired in a right footed half-volley that took a telling deflection off Müller to open the scoring.

The advantage was doubled by Götze within 120 seconds. Müller created confusion amongst the Kazakhstan defence, allowing the Dortmund midfielder to fire in from just inside the penalty area. Joachim Löw's side continued to dictate the pace of the game, although only the crossbar prevented the hosts from pulling a goal back, as Ulan Konysbaev left it rattling with a fine effort – Kazakhstan's best chance of the game.

Müller put the match to bed in the 74th minute, slotting in from ten metres after superb link-up play between Götze and Mesut Özil. It was Germany's fourth win in five games, and the Mannschaft will hope for a repeat performance when they host Kazakhstan in Nuremberg on Tuesday.